Optimal Design of a Composite Bellows Coupling using a Structural Optimization

摘要

This paper deals with a flexible bellows coupling from composite materials that may be used as a replacement for some conventional rigid steel couplings. A geometry optimization was done in connection with structural analysis to find the optimal geometry and layout of the individual plies of the laminate of the composite bellows coupling. These numerical simulations were created with NX Nastran solver in Siemens Simcenter 11. An advanced FE model was used to verify the model according to the geometry optimization. A maximum stress strength criterion was carried out to evaluate the strength of the composite structure.